Merry Christmas. In celebration of the time we honor the birth of Christ, I share with you some Christmas poems both written from Mary’s perspective. These came from Sr. Ruth Agnes Evans and were first recommended to me by poet and friend, Jay Ramsay. Sr. Ruth entered religious life in 1987 with the Poor Clares in the rural Cotswold valley of Woodchester, South West England. She lived there for 24 years until the convent closed in May 2011 and is now enjoying time in rented accommodations concentrating on her writing. Thank you Sr. Ruth for these beautiful Christmas reflections!
Seafarer [1]
Small traveller,
inside the sea, inside me,
under a sky without a moon;
your waves in me,
quieter than Lake Galilee.
You lay in my body’s swell,
where there was no wind or squall,
no tide to take you far away.
I was the night that kept you safe
before you knew the light,
O uncreated light,
granting all
that I was formed to be,
made me a beggar on the earth,
Queen for eternity.
[1] [1] This was published in Star, Volume 10, September/October, 2010, p. 24
Not As Your Own [1]
You did not come here as your own,
this land where beasts and soldiers roam,
where men die bleeding and alone.
You claimed your flesh and blood from me,
who did not claim equality
with God, lay wrapped in me…
You came like one unknown to bliss.
You bore no mark of ages sown,
of homage known, of love enthroned,
yet yielded in eternity…
You took the comfort of my kiss,
you sucked my milk, your eyes were mild
on mine and rapt on me.
The night was cold, I made you snug,
with hay and strips of swaddling band.
The flesh you took from me must stand
before the gaze of men who brand
each other with their hate and lies.
No murmur here of majesty,
of seraphs stooped in ecstasy…
Next to my bed I heard you cry,
you were so small, wrapped by my hands.
[1] [1] This was published in Star, Volume 10, January/February, 2010, p.37.
These are wonderful, Lauri. What a blessing.
It’s been such a pleasure to correspond with you over the past year. Thank you so much for your fellowship and your meditations. Have a blessed Christmas.
John Backman
http://www.dialogueventure.com
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-backman
Board member, NCDD
Author, Why Can’t We Talk? Christian Wisdom on Dialogue as a Habit of the Heart (published by and available from SkyLight Paths Publishing)
Description: cid:D530E911-413A-4DFB-A6C5-EE951553E17A@LonghillPartners.local
Thank you so much Laurie, the poems are touching. Merry Christmas.. Peace & Love to you & family